Oil filter removing tool

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to improved hand tools designed primarily for the removal of oil filters which are mounted on automobiles and other motorized equipment but also adapted for other uses. More particularly the improved tool comprises a latch carrying member comprising a cup shaped casing or housing, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outer end of an oil filter to be removed from an automobile. The housing is equipped with suitable flexible latching means coacting with suitable latch actuating wedge means carried by a wedge plate which is preferably mounted in the base of the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate is adapted to be rotated in the proper direction by means of a conventional tool such as a socket wrench or the like coacting with a nut or bolthead to which the wedge plate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge plate causes the wedge means to force the latch means into engagement with the end of the filter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause the latch means to firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation of the wedge plate in the same direction causes the latch housing and the filter to be rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch means may be released from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedge plate a short distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are also carried by the latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrong direction.

United States Patent 1191 Rhodes Dec. 10, 1974 OIL FILTER REMOVING TOOL[75] Inventor: Charles W. Rhodes, Victoria, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Alfred L. Burden, Victoria, Tex.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,535

Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to improved hand tools designedprimarily for the removal of oil filters which are mounted onautomobiles and other motorized equipment but also adapted for otheruses. More particularly the improved tool comprises a latch carryingmember comprising a cup shaped casing or housing, the open end of whichis adapted to be placed over the outer end of an oil filter to beremoved from an automobile. The housing is equipped with suitableflexible latching means coacting with suitable latch actuating wedgemeans carried by a wedge plate which is preferably mounted in the baseof the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate is adapted to be rotated inthe proper direction by means of a conventional tool such as a socketwrench or the like coacting with a nut or bolthead to which the wedgeplate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge plate causes the wedgemeans to force the latch means into engagement with the end of thefilter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause the latch meansto firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation of the wedgeplate in the same direction causes the latch housing and the filter tobe rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch means may bereleased from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedge plate ashort distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are also carried bythe latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrong direction.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDHEC 10 m4 sum 1 or 2 FIG].

FIG.3.

PATENTEU nu: 10 m4 SHEET 2 0f 2 OIL FILTER REMOVING TOOL The inventionrelates to improved hand tools designed primarily for the removal of oilfilters which are mounted on automobiles and other motorized equipmentbut also adapted for other uses. More particularly the improved toolcomprises a latch carrying member comprising a cup shaped casing orhousing, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outerend of an oil filter to be removed from an automobile. The housing isequipped with suitable flexible latching means coacting with suitablelatch actuating wedge means carried by a wedge plate which is preferablymounted in the base of the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate isadapted to be rotated in the proper direction by means of a conventionaltool such as a socket wrench or the like coacting with a nut or boltheadto which the wedge plate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge platecauses the wedge means to force the latch means into engagement with theend of the filter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause thelatch means to firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation ofthe wedge plate in the same direction causes the latch housing and thefilter to be rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch meansmay be released from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedgeplate a short distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are alsocarried by the latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrongdirection.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The improved tool was designed and builtlbecause existing facilities are not adequate in a great number ofinstances, as indicated by various individuals who have expressed adesire for something more efficient, and an investigation of theproblems encountered in the process of filter removal. Accordingly, theprimary object of the invention is to aid the maintenance personnel inthe removal of the oil filter used on automobiles and other automotiveequipment. It is understood that there are presently other devicesintended for this purpose, such as the band or strap type filterremovers which are useful in some instances. yet there are manyinstances where the strap or band type cannot be used at all due to thelocation of the filter on the motor and the lack of space around thefilter. On many automobiles the filter is located in a position near theframe, cross-members, steering column. fuel pump, power steering caseand possibly other parts of the assembly which prevent the movement ofthe band type filter tool once it is installed around the filter,therefore making it useless. My oil filter removal device can beinstalled on any oil filter and with the use of a suitable wrench, orsocket and ratchet with suitable extension. the oil filter can be brokenloose for easy removal by hand. It will also be noted that in theprocess of breaking the filter loose from the block the removal tool islocked onto the filter and the filter can then be removed by handwithout touching the often hot, grime and oil encrusted filter with thebare hands. In instances when the oil filter is mounted vertically onthe motor. oil escapes as the filter is loosened, running down the sideof the filter and onto the floor. With the use of my invention, and dueto its design, most and possibly all of the escaping oil will be caughtinside the tool. It will be understood that this device may be useful inother ways and should not be limited for oil filter service only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description which are intended as illustrative only and notlimit the invention to the particular details set forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved filter removing tool;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing, inbroken lines, a fragmentary end portion of an oil filter to be removedand also showing, in broken lines, a fragmentary portion of a socketwrench adapted to cooperate with the head portion of the actuatingmember connected to the rotatable portion of the improved tool;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the wedge means inoperative engagement with the latch means, whereby the latch means isforced into operative gripping engagement with the end of the filter tobe removed, the filter being indicated in broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing in detail the individual portions ofthe tool including a socket wrench cooperating therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 10denotes generally my improved oil filter removing tool.

The tool 10 comprises a cup shaped housing or casing 11 comprising latchmounting means, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over theouter end of a suitable filter l2, represented fragmentarily in brokenlines in FIGS. 2 and 3. The latch mounting means 11 serves as a housingor casing for latch means 13 suitably attached as by welding to theinterior of the casing wall the latch members 13 are herewith shown asthree in number and are substantially equally spaced about thecylindrical wall of the cup shaped casing 11. The function of the latchmeans is to tightly grip the outer perimeter of the filter when forcedinto engagement therewith by correspondingly spaced wedge or cam members14 herein shown as carried by a rotatable wedge or cam member 15 in theform of a plate mounted for rotation with reference to the latch housingmember for clamping the latch means to the filter when rotated in onedirection and for releasing the same when rotated in the oppositedirection. The latch means 13 may be formed of suitable spring materialsuch as spring steel, and are suitably secured to one end to theinterior of the latch housing 11 as by welding or riveting. The latchmeans 13 are preferably provided with teeth 13a to insure a tight gripupon the end of the filter. The free portions of the spring latch meansare adapted to be engaged by the wedge or cam members 14 and forced intogripping engagement with the end of the filter as indicated in FIG. 3.When the wedge carrying means is rotated in the direction of the arrow16 (FIG. 1). Continued rotation in the direction of of the arrow 16releases the filter from its seat and the filter and tool may then beremoved together.

To release the latch means 13 from gripping engagement with the filterit is only necessary to rotate the wedge or cam plate 15 a shortdistance in the direction of the arrow 17(F1G. 1).

Suitable stop means 18 are provided on the interior of the wall of thecasing 11 to prevent rotation in the wrong direction.

The special tool is not intended for use for installing the filter butonly for removal of the same. The filter is intended to be installed byhand in the usual manner.

The wedge or cam carrying means is shown in the form ofa plate initiallyhaving a central opening 20 and concentric with an opening 21 in thebottom 22 of the latch housing 11. To rotate the cam carrying plate 15from the outside any suitable means may be employed. As shown a bolt 25having a head 26 with flattened sides (FIG. 4) may be employed. The head26 is provided with a stem 27 which is inserted through the opening 21in the bottom of the housing 11 and through the opening 20 in the bottomof the cam carrying plate 15 to which it is thereafter secured by anysuitable means as by welding or the like.

The head 26 may be either integral with the stem 27 as in the case of abolt or may be in the form of a nut initially removable from the stem,in which case the stem 27 may be integral with the cam plate 15 and maybe inserted through the hole 21 in the bottom of the housing 11 and thehead 26 may thereafter be threaded onto the stem 27 and may bepermanently secured thereto as by soldering or may be tightly screwedonto the stem. in the latter case the screw threading will be such as toinsure rotation in the direction of the arrow 16 when it is desired toremove the filter and the threaded connection will be sufficiently tightto permit rotation in the unlatching direction indicated by the arrow 17to remove the cams or wedges 14 from the latches 13 as indicated in FIG.1 of the drawings.

Any suitable tool such as a socket wrench 30 may be employed forengagement with the head 26 to actuate the cam or wedge carrying plate15.

GENERAL COMMENTS OF INVENTOR This device was designed primarily for usein removing oil filters on automobiles and other motorized equipment.

The plan view of FIG. 1 shows the device 10 from its open end throughwhich it is placed over the outer end of the filter 11 to be removed. itwill be noted that the removal tool 10 is designed to operate in onedirection which is the direction for removal of the filter only asindicated by the arrow 16, as it is not recommended that a tool ordevice of any kind (other than the hands) be used for installing anyfilter of the type used on automobiles. Thus stop plate 18 has beeninstalled to prevent rotation in the wrong direction. FIG. 1 shows theinner parts and their position before the removal operation is started.FIG. 2 shows the wedge mounting plate 15 as a disc plate with the wedges14 attached, and mounted inside of and at the bottom of the housing 11and being attached to the wrench nut 26. This view also shows the latchmeans 13, which are spring type plates fastened to the inside of thehousing 11 and are equally spaced as are the knife-like wedges or cams14.

FIG. 2 shows the inner plate 15 with the wedges or cams 14 removed fromthe latch housing 11 for a clearer view of the two main parts and thepieces attached to them.

OPERATION The open end of the tool 10 is placed over the outer end ofthe filter to be removed. Filter guide and wedge arms carried by thecasing 11 guide the tool over the filter l2 and position the tool sothat the filter is centered within the tool. The guide and wedge arms100 hold the tool 10 securely on the filter 12. The wrench or socket 30is placed on the nut 26 and the nut is rotated in the indicateddirection for the removal of the filter. As the nut 26 is turned thewedge mounting plate 15 is rotated in the same direction causing thewedges 14 to be forced between the housing 11 and the spring typelatches or latch plates 13. As the wedges 14 are forced between thehousing 11 and the latch plates 13 the free end of the latch plates 13are forced inward causing the notched end 13a of the latch plates 13 tobe forced into the side of the filter. This action by the ends of thelatch plates 13 causes an impression to be formed in the side of thefilter without tearing holes in thefilter; thus no oil leaks out. Withthe notched edges 13a of the latch plates 13 imbedded in the side of thefilter the nut 26 is further rotated which causes the wedges 14 tobecome lodged between the latch plates 13 and the wall of the housing11. This device is then locked in position on the filter. By turning thenut 26 in the indicated direction 16 the filter will be easily loosenedfrom the engine block. The operation of locking the device onto thefilter is done so that when the wrench 30 is removed, the oil filterremoval tool 10 remains locked on the filter 12 and the filter can beunscrewed from the block by holding onto the tool 10 rather than thefilter 12, which is often hot and covered with oil, grit, etc. The tool10 is then easily removed from the filter 12 by rotating the nut 26 inthe opposite direction 17 until the wedges 14 are freed. This tool 10has been made and its operation proven.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration but it will be obvious that various modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention in its broadest aspects.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand tool for removal of oil filters and the like comprising a cupshaped latch carrying housing having an open end adapted to fit over oneend of a filter to be removed, said housing including a cylindrical wallportion, latch means carried by the interior of said wall portionincluding a portion attached to the housing wall and having a resilientfree portion extending along the wall and having a filter grippingportion extending inwardly therefrom, and rotatable latch actuating cammeans adapted for engagement with the free end portion of said latchmeans to force the same into operative engagement with said filter,means rotatably mounting said cam means concentrically with thecylindrical wall of said latch carrying housing. and means for rotatingsaid mounting means in one direction to bring the cam means intooperative engagement with the latch means to engage said filter and torotate said filter for removal from its seat and for rotating saidmounting means in the opposite direction to disengage the cam means fromthe latch means.

2. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch means comprisesa leaf spring having a portion secured to the wall of the housing andhaving a free portion extending circumferentially along the wall.

3. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the filter grippingportion of said latch means is toothed.

4. A hand tool as set forth in claim I wherein stop means are providedto prevent rotation of the filter in the wrong direction.

5. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means forsaid cam means includes a cam carrying plate rotatably mounted in thebase portion of said cup shaped latch carrying housing.

6. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam means comprisesknife-like members projecting upwardly from said cam carrying plate.

7. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam carrying plateis provided with a stem portion projecting through an opening in thebase of said cup shaped housing and fiatheaded means carried by saidstem outside of said housing for engagement with a socket wrench or thelike.

8. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is providedwith filter guide and cam means to facilitate assembly of the filterwith the filter removing tool.

9. A hand tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein the filter guide and cammeans comprises a plurality of upright straps, each secured at one endto the interior of the cylindrical wall of said casing or housing andincluding free portion inclined at its outer end to provide cam means toguide the end of the filter into the latch carrying housing.

10. A hand tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein the latch meanscomprises a plurality of spaced leaf spring latch members, each having aportion secured to the cylindrical casing and having a free portionextending circumferentially from the fixed portion, said guide meanscomprising leaf spring members corresponding in location and number tosaid latch members and each being secured to said casing adjacent thefixed portion of one of said latch members and each having a flexiblefree portion extending over the fixed portion of the corresponding latchmember, the end portion of each of said flexible free portions beinginclined to serve as a guide or cam for the end of the filter as it isassembled with said tool.

1. A hand tool for removal of oil filters and the like comprising a cupshaped latch carrying housing having an open end adapted to fit over oneend of a filter to be removed, said housing including a cylindrical wallportion, latch means carried by the interior of said wall portionincluding a portion attached to the housing wall and having a resilientfree portion extending along the wall and having a filter grippingportion extending inwardly therefrom, and rotatable latch actuating cammeans adapted for engagement with the free end portion of said latchmeans to force the same into operative engagement with said filter,means rotatably mounting said cam means concentrically with thecylindrical wall of said latch carrying housing, and means for rotatingsaid mounting means in one direction to bring the cam means intooperative engagement with the latch means to engage said filter and torotate said filter for removal from its seat and for rotating saidmounting means in the opposite direction to disengage the cam means fromthe latch means.
 2. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein thelatch means comprises a leaf spring having a portion secured to the wallof the housing and having a free portion extending circumferentiallyalong the wall.
 3. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein thefilter gripping portion of said latch means is toothed.
 4. A hand toolas set forth in claim 1 wherein stop means are provided to preventrotation of the filter in the wrong direction.
 5. A hand tool as setforth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means for said cam means includesa cam carrying plate rotatably mounted in the base portion of said cupshaped latch carrying housing.
 6. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5wherein said cam means comprises knife-like members projecting upwardlyfrom said cam carrying plate.
 7. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5wherein said cam carrying plate is provided with a stem portionprojecting through an opening in the base of said cup shaped housing andflatheaded means carried by said stem outside of said housing forengagement witH a socket wrench or the like.
 8. A hand tool as set forthin claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with filter guide and cammeans to facilitate assembly of the filter with the filter removingtool.
 9. A hand tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein the filter guideand cam means comprises a plurality of upright straps, each secured atone end to the interior of the cylindrical wall of said casing orhousing and including free portion inclined at its outer end to providecam means to guide the end of the filter into the latch carryinghousing.
 10. A hand tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein the latch meanscomprises a plurality of spaced leaf spring latch members, each having aportion secured to the cylindrical casing and having a free portionextending circumferentially from the fixed portion, said guide meanscomprising leaf spring members corresponding in location and number tosaid latch members and each being secured to said casing adjacent thefixed portion of one of said latch members and each having a flexiblefree portion extending over the fixed portion of the corresponding latchmember, the end portion of each of said flexible free portions beinginclined to serve as a guide or cam for the end of the filter as it isassembled with said tool.